look at how cute that is. we'll have to get another sneak peek tomorrow. >> lester holt is next. we'll be back at 6:00. >> see you soon. bye. breaking news tonight. the back-to-back mass shootings just as president biden takes action on gun violence in texas the workplace shooting leaving at least one dead, several injured. the manhunt for the suspect. and in south carolina the former nfl player police say killed five people, including a doctor, his wife, and their two grandchildren. the search for a motive it comes as president biden announces six executive actions on what he calls an epidemic of gun violence in america. among them a crackdown on untraceable ghost guns and a push for red flag laws. tonight the fierce backlash from republicans. chilling testimony. the medical expert

telling the jury george floyd died from a low level of oxygen, not from drugs or heart problems as the defense argues the image he says shows floyd was, quote, literally trying to breathe with his fingers and knuckles under derek chauvin's knee the covid surge in the midwest. a growing number of cases in kids and teens and so-called breakthrough infections what's your risk of catching covid after you've been fully vaccinated our series "american worker." after covid what will your workplace look like and the golf legend making history at the masters >> announcer: this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt good evening we're going to begin with breaking news here tonight just hours after president biden signed executive actions on new gun restrictions yet another apparent mass shooting has occurred the second in under 24 hours. late this afternoon gunfire erupting at a business in bryan, texas. officials say at least one person is dead, several others are

critically hurt. it comes after five people were shot and killed yesterday by a former nfl player in south carolina the president frustrated by what he calls an epidemic of mass shootings earlier today saying enough prayers, time for action we'll tell you about those actions in a moment but first, details on that breaking news from texas morgan chesky is there. >> reporter: tonight, tragedy in texas police converging on the scene of another mass shooting. the gunman opening fire on multiple people police saying at least one person is dead, four others hospitalized the city of bryan, 100 miles northwest of houston, on high alert. >> officers responded to the scene and arrived in a fairly short period of time however, the shooter had gone by the time officers got here. >> reporter: the first reports of gunfire came in just after 2:30 local time. >> we have one shot in the arm, one shot in the back >> reporter: the calls centering around a cabinet business police are now asking everyone to steer

clear until more evidence can be gathered at the scene. and late tonight police say that they now know six people have been shot and they may have a suspect in custody but they are not saying if he is the sole person responsible. in the meantime atf agents are headed to that scene to assist in the ongoing investigation. lester >> all right, morgan chesky with that breaking news. thanks this follows that staggering loss in a south carolina community near charlotte after a former nfl player shot and killed five people including a well-known doctor, his wife and two grandchildren. sam brock is there with late details. >> reporter: tonight unspeakable tragedy. >> there's nothing about this right now that makes sense to any of us. >> reporter: police say former nfl player phillip adams shot and killed 70-year-old robert lesslie, a prominent doctor, his wife barbara and their two grandkids, only 9 and 5 years old, as well as a 38-year-old man working on the property, critically

injuring a second worker before taking his own life in a bedroom at his nearby parents' home. adams' father choked up speaking to nbc station wcnc >> he was a good kid and he -- i think the football messed him up >> reporter: police today reading an emotional statement from the victims' families >> there are no answers that will satisfy the question why. we are sure of one thing. we do not grieve as those without hope >> reporter: adams was a 2010 draft pick of the san francisco 49ers who played for six nfl teams. the league releasing a statement, "our hearts go out to the families and friends of the victims of this devastating tragedy. in a 2019 valentine's tweet robert lesslie wrote, "lives are unexpectedly changed or ended and it happens suddenly so tell that someone that you love just what you're thinking of." at this point the sheriff's department says there's no indication of a doctor-patient relationship between these neighbors. lester >> all right sam brock, thank you and as you heard, those mass shootings

coming as president biden signed executive actions on guns. he's now facing backlash from republicans for moves they say takes away americans' second amendment rights kristen welker is at the white house. >> reporter: tonight, with more mass shootings in the headlines, president biden announcing new restrictions on guns >> this is an epidemic, for god's sake and it has to stop >> reporter: the president unveiling a series of executive actions including directing the justice department to draft model red flag laws which allow courts to temporarily bar someone who's viewed as a danger to themselves or others from accessing guns and directing the doj to propose rules to stop the proliferation of so-called ghost guns, homemade firearms assembled from kits that do not have traceable serial numbers. in 2019 a shooter using a ghost gun opened fire at a california high school, killing two children including bryan muehlberger's 15-year-old daughter

gracie >> she could make people laugh she was my little jokester and to have that empty seat at the dinner table is just -- it's unbearable >> reporter: a gun owner himself, he called today an important step >> this is personal for you. >> yes it very much is. i don't want any parent to go through what we've gone through over the last year and a half. >> reporter: still, some gun control advocates fault the president for breaking his campaign promise to submit gun legislation on day one. today the president calling on congress to act. >> enough prayers. time for some action >> reporter: but many republicans slamming the president for going around congress with executive actions, which they say undermine the gun rights of law-abiding citizens >> it's no surprise that a liberal president would start looking at more gun control. but i can tell you it's not going to make us any safer it just infringes on our second amendment rights it infringes on law-abiding americans who exercise that right lawfully every day.

>> kristen, what specifically is the president asking congress to do on guns >> reporter: he wants the senate to pass two bills that expand background checks. meanwhile, the president nominated david chipman to be the first permanent director of the atf in six years. chipman will likely face criticism from republicans for his support of tougher gun measures lester >> all right, kristen, thanks very much let's talk now about the question in a minnesota courtroom. how exactly did george floyd die? it is the question in the murder trial of derek chauvin, and today powerful testimony about it in a way we haven't heard before from a renowned breathing expert gabe gutierrez is in minneapolis. >> reporter: in the calmest of demeanors dr. martin tobin cut to the heart of george floyd's death. >> mr. floyd died from a low level of oxygen. and this caused damage to his brain -- >> reporter: a direct and powerful rebuttal of the defense's argument that floyd died because of drugs and underlying medical conditions

>> do any of these conditions have anything to do with the cause of mr. floyd's death in your professional opinion whatsoever >> none whatsoever >> reporter: dr. tobin showed jurors a 3-d animation to illustrate what happened he testified that chauvin kept his knee on floyd's neck for more than three minutes after floyd took his last breath >> you can see his eyes, he's conscious and then you see that he isn't that's the moment the life goes out of his body >> reporter: dr. tobin, an expert pulmonologist who wrote what's known in the medical field as the bible on breathing, testified other parts of floyd's body revealed his desperate struggle to survive. >> you see his knuckle against the tire and to most people this doesn't look terribly significant but to a physiologist this is extraordinarily significant. because this tells you that he has used up his resources and he's

now literally trying to breathe with his fingers and knuckles >> reporter: dr. tobin also told jurors this picture of chauvin's toe off the ground showed the officer placed most of his weight on floyd. during cross-examination chauvin's defense attorney tried to cast some doubt, but the world-renowned expert gave little ground >> you've taken this case and you've literally boiled it down into a nanosecond >> i wouldn't say that >> reporter: late today a toxicologist testified that the amount of meth found in floyd's blood was low and consistent with a single prescription dose. tomorrow we're expecting to hear from the county medical examiner about his controversial autopsy. lester >> all right, gabe gutierrez tonight. thank you. in just 60 seconds, how some people are becoming infected with covid even after getting vaccinated and our exclusive tonight. a troubling problem facing a growing number of young children and what parents need to know

let's turn now to the covid crisis and steady progress vaccinating americans

against covid but also some new setbacks to tell you about more than 112 million have now received at least one dose while 36,000 are hospitalized many newly infected are young and a small number have been fully vaccinated miguel almaguer explains >> reporter: as the nation adds another 74,000 new covid cases in a single day, tonight the numbers are among the most concerning for the young. new infections among 10 to 19-year-olds are climbing in minnesota they account for 1 in every 6 new cases. dr. vin gupta is seeing younger patients with serious lung problems. >> once covid-19 wreaks havoc on lungs it doesn't really matter if you're older or younger >> reporter: no one and no region is immune for 16 straight days michigan has seen over a 100% spike in new infection rates. >> the numbers are just going up and up and up, and every day when i look at our covid numbers they're

higher than the day before >> reporter: with 25% of adults vaccinated, there are more reports of breakthrough cases. 102 fully vaccinated people in washington later caught the virus. it comes after 141 cases in south carolina and 374 in minnesota. experts say the infections are rare and a reminder, the vaccines a strong layer of protection but not a silver bullet nurse-practitioner diane schmidt contracted covid four months after she was vaccinated >> i'm definitely an outlier. i still highly recommend the vaccine. >> reporter: but in north carolina and colorado closures at mass vaccination sites. hundreds had appointments canceled after a small number of adverse reactions tonight both centers set to soon reopen progress but not without setbacks there is also new worry the true number of new infections is

much higher than being reported one reason many testing sites have turned into vaccination centers. lester >> okay, miguel, thank you. and make a plan so you'll be ready when it's your turn for your vaccination visit planyourvaccine.com for more now to our nbc news exclusive for years we've reported that the number of people struggling with suicidal thoughts and self-harm has been rising tonight new evidence that's true even for young children here's kate snow >> there's a little swing back over that way that she absolutely loved to play on. >> reporter: last summer brandy bielicki was about to take her daughter kodie on vacation near their home in wisconsin. >> and about 4:00 that day she called me at work and we face-timed she said mom, can you face-time me sure, kid. she lost a tooth she wanted to tell me she lost a tooth >> reporter: but when brandy went home, the door was open and the only sign of kodie was a short note >> it was the first cry for help and she

went all the way >> reporter: authorities found kodie's body in a nearby field she was 10 years old >> it was a shock to the system it was the last thing i was thinking, was that she was going to take her own life, because she wouldn't -- there was no signs. >> reporter: none of it makes sense >> none of it made sense. >> reporter: death from suicide among children remains rare, but the number of children ages 6 to 12 who visited children's hospitals for suicidal thoughts or self-harm has more than doubled since 2016 dr. megan schott heads psychiatric emergency services at children's national hospital. >> when a child asks for help or tells you they're struggling, believe them and help get them mental health treatment. >> reporter: signs parents can look for in young kids, grades dropping, anger and irritability, not wanting to go outside. and while dr. schott says it's good that talking about mental health has been normalized, she's concerned that younger kids are more exposed now to suicide and self-harm.

>> if you see your friend cutting or talking about it, you might start thinking about it >> happy new year. >> happy new year. >> reporter: as a single mom brandy had been so close with kodie. do you think maybe she just did something super impulsive? >> absolutely. i think at 10 years old they can't see past the tip of their nose and they don't understand permanence. >> reporter: she's expecting a baby boy now and decorated his nursery with sloths, kodie's favorite animal she's pleading for families to have conversations with their young kids >> because if i can be caught off guard, and i was so involved with my daughter, it was just me and her, if i can be caught off guard anybody can. you know, i thought i had beat all the odds as a single parent, and apparently there's one that i missed. >> kate, it just tears your heart out do experts have advice on how to talk to younger kids >> reporter: yeah, lester

psychologists suggest asking open-ended questions and using what kids understand so maybe ask have you been having thoughts that worry you do you ever feel so bad that you don't want to be here? and most importantly, telling children there are people who can help and getting professional help. we have more resources on our "nightly news" facebook page, lester. >> yeah, kate, thank you for bringing us that story if you or someone you know needs help call the national suicide prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text talk to 741741 up next here tonight, how companies will try to re-engage workers.

oh, you think this is just a community center? no. it's way more than that. cause when you hook our community up with the internet... boom! look at ariana, crushing virtual class. jamol, chasing that college dream. michael, doing something crazy. this is the place where we can show the world what we can do. comcast is partnering with 1000 community centers to create wifi-enabled lift zones, so students from low-income families can get the tools they need to be ready for anything.

oh we're ready. ♪ ♪ all right. we're back now with our series on the american worker. while many companies say employees are happy and productive working from home, there is also a push to bring teams back. here's tom costello. >> reporter: in arlington, virginia the ground is trembling. as workers lay the foundation for amazon's new hq2 >> we're hoping all 25,000 people as time allows will feel comfortable coming back to the office >> reporter: 25,000 over the next ten years. while working remotely has worked, amazon says there's no substitute for face-to-face collaboration. why is collaboration in person so important for you guys >> the sharing of ideas and that in-person communication really helps foster a faster, more efficient innovation process >> reporter: covid has accelerated change in the workplace.

a recent report found big cities have lost 400,000 jobs while suburbs and smaller cities have added 175,000. one of new york's biggest real estate developers believes 10% to 15% of workers will stay home the rest splitting their time or coming back >> if you're looking to attract and retain the greatest talent pool, they've got to feel part of your organization they've got to feel they have a sense of purpose, they have a sense of values. part of your culture >> reporter: that's what 25-year-old ali meka misses, hired just ten days before the lockdown >> just working from home, not having that tribal knowledge of talking to the person at the desk next to me to learn from. >> reporter: but after a year of working from home a lot of americans have no interest in returning to a big box office building they want more elbow room, more recreation, more quality of life software company executive alan gilchrist used to bounce between offices around the world a year ago he rebased to hawaii. >> i found that i can work from hawaii and manage those

expectations and manage those demands effectively. i like the camaraderie but i also like quiet and to have a sanctuary to go deep in my space. >> reporter: back at amazon's hq2 the blueprints call for more collaboration rooms, restaurants, open and outdoor space, hoping a very different workplace will encourage even more game-changing innovation tom costello, nbc news, arlington, virginia on this holocaust remembrance day, lessons from the past more relevant than ever as we confront an epidemic of hate in our own time here's harry smith >> reporter: 101-year-old eddie jaku survived the auschwitz death camp his parents did not. >> my father 52 and my mom 49, died in a gas chamber with 1,500 people 20 minutes before you suffocate. >> reporter: jaku had considered himself a proud german

jewish, yes, but a german first until the holocaust. >> who invent something like this? now they ask, what has been done 80 years ago and now it's time to forget never. >> reporter: the hatred of the holocaust is not yesterday's news >> i know the lesson well that hate continues. >> reporter: elizabeth edelstein heads education efforts at the museum of jewish heritage in new york >> i'm seeing not just anti-semitism, not just acts of hate against jews but against other neighbors. >> reporter: hate crimes in america have risen to the highest level in more than a decade in january these men posted pictures of themselves doing a nazi salute outside the museum hate does not live in a vacuum it requires allies those who would look away in the new film "final account" we hear germans who grew up in nazi youth programs, then served the third reich.

for some denial is their best defense of the holocaust survivor primo levi said this -- "it happened therefore, it can happen again." harry smith, nbc news, new york up next for us tonight, he's making history again and inspiring america.

. . # finally, one of golf's greats has returned to the door he helped crack open decades ago.

once again, "inspiring america. on one of golf's most revered courses, a legacy cemented. >> today lee elder will inspire us and make history once more not with a drive but with his presence, strength, and character. lee, it is my privilege to say you have the honors. [ applause ] >> reporter: and with that alongside two of golf's greats, gary player and jack nicklaus, 86-year-old elder became the first african-american honorary starter at the 85th masters tournament >> i feel that i was blessed. >> reporter: but it was 1975 when the trailblazing golfer broke augusta's color barrier. the first black man to tee off at a club

which had a history of discrimination and while he didn't make the cut the first time, he would go on to play at augusta five more times, inspiring generations of golfers to come >> i certainly hope that the things that i have done have inspired a lot of young black players and they will continue on with it >> that's "nightly news" for this thursday thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take right now at 6:00, a sign of normalcy. in less than 24 hours, fans step back inside oracle park for the giants home opener. and warriors fans get some good news too. >> today's the day that we have a path to reopen chase center. >> the rules you need to know before you head to the game. plus the focus and the fight against coronavirus now turning to college kids. what the cdc is asking parents to do before they drop their

kids at college in the fall. but first, are we headed for a vaccine shortage? california is expecting to see an 85% to 90% drop in johnson & johnson doses over the next two weeks. what is means for you as you try to book your vaccine appointment. the news at 6:00 starts right now. good evening. good thursday. thanks for joining us. i'm janelle wang. >> and i'm jessica aguirre. it's just what we didn't want to hear. just as california prepares to expand eligibility for the covid vaccine, the number of doses we're getting is about to drop dramatically. as nbc bay area's thom jensen explains, the number of johnson & johnson single-shot vaccines is about to drop by hundreds of thousands of doses. >> reporter: in baltimore, at emergent biosolutions, some estimate 15 million of the johnson & johnson vaccine doses had to be thrown out just last week. but at the time they said that wouldn't affect their delivery quotas. and the president has reiterated